Non-reusable vaginal cleansing apparatus



July 8, 1969 T. SALIS 3,454,007

NON-REUSEABLE VAGINAL CLEANSING APPARATUS Filed July 15. 1966 INVENTOR THEODORE SALIS ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 128232 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A vaginal cleansing apparatus includes a manually compressible container provided with a neck. A cap provided with an aperture through the top is threadedly connectable to the neck. A nozzle is included which is initially inserted through the neck and housed within the container in a storage position. The nozzle may then be removed from the container and extended through the aperture in the cap in operating position to communicate the vaginal cleansing fluid contained within the container through the nozzle. Structure is provided to allow the nozzle to be removable in the storage position and nonremovable in the operating position.

This invention relates to a vaginal cleansing apparatus, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a non-reuseable vaginal cleansing apparatus which may be prefilled with a suitable cleansing solution.

Heretofore most of the apparatus which have been provided for cleansing the vaginal area is capable of and is adapted for reuse. Successive uses of such equipment without proper cleaning may introduce infectious bacteria into the vagina rendering more harm to the user than benefit. The less knowledgeable the user, the greater is the risk that the apparatus will not be properly cleaned.

Furthermore, with many known devices it is necessary for the user to mix the medicated solution which is to be used in the cleansing operation. In such a solution, it is important that the pH factor, the constituent concentrations, and other parameters be controlled within certain ranges. An excessively concentrated solution might inflame and even permanently damage the vaginal walls, while a weak solution might not be efiective. For these reasons, it is generally undesirable to require the user to mix the cleansing solution. Even devices which include a measured amount of medicinal ingredients in the apparatus, merely requiring the user to add water, do not eliminate the possibility of user error. Another disadvantage of requiring solution preparation by the user is the increased possibility of apparatus contamination during addition of solution to the apparatus because of the manual operations involved.

Yet another disadvantage of prior devices is the lack of a compact apparatus which is conveniently and discreetly portable.

The present invention provides an improved vaginal cleansing apparatus which is not adapted to be used more than once and which, in one form, contains a pre-mixed cleansing solution which is implaced in the apparatus before it reaches the user.

The present invention also provides an improved compact vaginal cleansing apparatus formed of interfitting component parts permitting easy storage and assuring optimum sterility before use.

The invention may be generally described as a nonreuseable cleansing apparatus including a manually compressible container provided with a neck. A cap provided with an aperture through the top is securable to the neck. A nozzle is included which is adapted to 'be inserted through the neck and housed within the container in a first position and extended through the aperture in the 3,454,007 Patented July 8, 1969 cap in a second position for communicating a fluid contained within the container through the nozzle. Means are provided for removably securing the nozzle in the first position and for fixedly securing the nozzle in the second position.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view, partially in section, of one embodiment of the present invention where the nozzle is housed within the container;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded elevational view of a portion of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partially cutaway elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1, with the nozzle extending through the cap; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 3.

With particular reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, a manually compressible, bellows or accordion-shaped container 10 of a polyethylene plastic or the like is provided with a neck 11. Neck 11 includes a flexible, accordion-shaped portion 12 and a generally cylindrical externally threaded portion 13 which mateably receives an internally threaded cylindrical cap 14 also formed of polyethylene plastic or the like. Top 15 of cap 14 is provided with an aperture 16 which is defined by an oblique annular surface 17 and a vertical cylindrical wall 18.

Inserted through neck 11 and housed within container 10 is a nozzle 19 provided with a plate-like base 21 which is supported upon top surface 22 of neck 11. Base 21 has an upstanding portion 23 which cooperates with top 15 of cap 14 to retain a circular spacer disk 24 of a suitable plastic or the like therebetween.

Spacer disk 24 serves to prevent full engagement between cap 14 and neck 11 as illustrated in FIGURE 1, and thus prevents the locking of cap 14 on neck 11, as is more fully explained below.

As illustrated by FIGURE 3, upon removal of disk 24 from cap 14 and inversion of nozzle 19, base 21 of nozzle 19 will be accommodated between top 15 of cap 14 and surface 22 of neck 11, permitting full engagement of cap 14 with neck 11. During engagement of cap 14 with neck 11, lip 25 of cap 14 will compress the relatively radially deformable truncated conical extension 26 of neck 11. Upon full engagement of cap 14 with neck 11, extension 26 will be received within interior circular recess 27 in cap 14. When cap 14 assumes the position illustrated in FIGURE 3, it will be fixedly secured to neck 11, preventing its removal due to engagement between annular surface 28 on extension 26 and annular surface 29 on cap 14.

As particularly illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, nozzle 19 is provided with an accordion-shaped flexible portion 31 which cooperates with the flexible portion 12 of neck 11, as particularly illustrated in FIGURE 4, to permit easy manipulation of nozzle 19 so that it may assume various attitudes relative to container 10.

Container 10 is preferably filled with a vaginal cleansing solution 32. A milliliter batch of a preferred solution having a pH of 5.4 may be formed by admixing 1.0 grams of sodium hyperborate and 1.53 grams of sodium bitartrate with sufficient distilled water to form a 100 milliliter solution. While the described solution is preferred, various other solutions may be used including an antibiotic solution, and if batches larger or smaller than 100 milliliter are desired, the amount of the above ingredients may be accordingly varied.

In operation, container 10 may be filled with a suitable vaginal cleansing solution 32, such as that described above. Nozzle 19 is inserted through neck 11 to assume a first position such as illustrated in FIGURE 1. Disk 24 is placed over upstanding portion 23 of nozzle 19, and cap 14 is threaded onto neck 11 until it assumes the position illustrated in FIGURE 1, at which time base 21 of nozzle 19 will be compressed against surface 22 of neck 11 and disk 24 will be compressed against top 15 of cap 14.

A double seal is thus created. Specifically, the seal created between base 21 and surface 22 and between disk 24 and top 15 of cap 14 serves to prevent escape of the cleansing fluid 32 in container 10. The apparatus thus assembled comprises a compact, discreetly portable unit containing a properly mixed cleaning solution with the nozzle 19 protected from external contamination. The user is thus assured of a surgically clean apparatus.

To prepare the unit illustrated in FIGURE 1 for use, the cap 14 is removed and the disk 24 discarded. Nozzle 19 is inverted and extended through cap 14, as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. Cap 14 is then fully engaged with neck 11 to permit extension 26 to be received in interior recess 27 at which time base 21 will be compressed between surface 22 on neck 11 and top 15 of cap 14, assuring a fluid-tight seal.

The unit may be deformed as illustrated in FIGURE 4, nozzle 19 inserted into the vaginal cavity, and the container compressed to expel the cleansing fluid 32 through apertures 30 in the tri-vaned tip 33 of nozzle 19. The accordion shape of the container 10 will permit expulsion of approximately 95 percent of the cleansing fluid.

Since nozzle 19 is fixedly secured to container 10 in the second position due to engagement between cap 14 and neck 11, it cannot be removed and reinserted through neck 11, thus discouraging reuse of the apparatus. Also, the container 10 is preferably formed with about a 0.01 inch thick wall, which upon expulsion of fluid from the container 10 will collapse, rendering any refilling of the container 10 most diflicult. Any refilling would require introduction of a fluid through apertures 30 which would be very time consuming.

While the embodiment illustrated is preferably filled with a properly measured cleansing solution, it may be provided to the user in the form illustrated in FIGURE 1, without the cleansing fluid. Once filled with the cleansing fluid, by the user, the nozzle 19 may be placed in the second position for use as described above. It will be observed that failure to fully engage the cap 14 on neck 11 when the nozzle 19 is in the second position is discouraged since base 21 will only form sealing engagement between surface 22 of neck 11 and top of cap 14 when cap 14 is fully engaged.

After a reading of the above, various modifications will appear to those skilled in the art. For example, a conical surface may be formed on the inside of neck 11 which would serve to lock the nozzle in the second position.

What is claimed is:

1. A non-reuseable vaginal cleansing apparatus comprising:

(a) a manually compressible container having a threaded neck with a radially deformable extension proximate the bottom thereof,

(b) a cap threadedly connected with said neck, said cap having an aperture through the top thereof and having an interior recess proximate the base thereof for fixedly receiving said deformable extension upon full engagement of said cap with said neck,

(c) a nozzle having a base portion which seats on and is supported by the top surface of said neck when said nozzle is extended through said neck and housed within said container in a first stored position, said base portion also seating on said top surface of said neck when said nozzle is extended through the aperture in said cap in a second operating position for communicating a fluid within said container through said nozzle, and

(d) means for preventing full engagement of said cap with said neck when said nozzle is in said first stored position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including a vaginal cleansing fluid carried by said container.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said means for preventing full engagement between said neck and said cap when said nozzle is in said first position, comprises:

(a) a spacer disk adapted to be accommodated within said cap between said base of said nozzle and the top of said cap when said nozzle is in said first position.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said disk is of suflicient diameter to cover the aperture in said cap for creating a fluid-tight engagement therewith.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said nozzle includes a flexible portion adjacent the base thereof.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said container contains a flexible portion adjacent said neck.

7. The device of claim 6 including a vaginal cleansing fluid carried by said container.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said nozzle includes a plate-like base which is sealingly accommodated between the top surface of said neck and the top of said cap when said nozzle is secured in said second position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 214,552 4/1879 Connable 128232 881,550 3/1908 Cole 222539 2,047,437 7/1936 Sinkler 128-232 2,368,836 2/1945 Holwick 222147 X 2,588,381 3/1952 Gow et al. 128232 2,837,251 6/1958 Moir et al. 222539 X 3,134,522 5/1964 Shwisha 222539 3,144,866 8/1964 Ellis 128-232 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,288,900 2/1962 France.

432,842 8/ 1935 Great Britain.

645,572 11/ 1950 Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. R. L. FRINKS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

